Looking for a sure cure for allergies? You may as well be looking for the Fountain of Youth. Just as medicine offers no surefire way to reverse aging, medicine offers no surefire cure for allergies. Avoiding triggers remains the best way to control allergies. Medications and other care may get you through the worst symptoms. But what happens when an allergen can’t be avoided, or a prescribed medication isn’t doing the trick? In these cases, your health care provider may recommend allergy shots — the closest thing to an allergy cure available today.

The good news is that some allergies, like some infections, can be controlled through a series of vaccinations. In allergy management, these injections are called immunotherapy. The bad news is that only a limited number of airborne allergens can be treated with immunotherapy. If your insurance won’t cover treatment, allergy shots can also be expensive.

Now back to the good news: if mold, dust mites, pet dander, or pollens trigger your allergies, allergy shots may provide relief. Up to 90% of people who receive immunotherapy for seasonal allergies call their treatments successful, according to statistics from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

What to expect

If you choose immunotherapy, you’ll receive injections of the allergens that trigger your allergies. Gradually, the dose is increased, and your immune system becomes less sensitive to the allergen. At first the injections may cause flare-ups of allergic symptoms, but the symptoms should taper off gradually. Note any allergy symptoms that occur after an injection. Before the next shot, be sure to tell your doctor about symptoms experienced after the last injection. He or she will also want to know ahead of time about any illnesses you may have, which could affect the effectiveness or safety of the injection.

The number and frequency of injections, degree of reaction, and time needed for successful therapy all depend on your immune system. Generally, injections may be given once or twice a week for about six months, then once every two to four weeks. Many people report reduced symptoms after one year of immunotherapy. But to ensure long-term results, therapy usually lasts anywhere from three to five years, sometimes longer. You and your doctor will decide together when to stop the injections after carefully evaluating how your symptoms have been controlled through immunotherapy.

Play it safe

As with any medical treatment, you need to know the risks before you begin. In very rare cases, some people have died from reactions to allergy shots. The May 1994 FDA Medical Bulletin documented just under one death per million injections between 1985 and 1993. Although the chance of fatality is small, mild adverse reactions are more common. The most common reaction is swelling at the injection site. In rare cases, patients have had serious reactions including throat swelling and breathing difficulty, which required emergency care.

For these reasons, both the AAAAI and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommend that certain precautions be taken. For instance, the AAAAI recommends that people receive allergy shots only from an allergist, immunologist, or primary care provider who is expertly trained in immunotherapy. It is also recommended that the patient remain in the physician’s office for at least 20 minutes following an injection to monitor for any problems.

Immunotherapy is a long-term commitment to treatment. Although many people are able to stop injections with positive, lasting results, symptoms can return after the shots end. The numbers stack in favor of those who are happy with treatment, however. Nine out of ten people who have allergy shots are pleased with the results. If you think allergy shots might help you, talk to your primary care provider or an allergist to learn more.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 am and is filed under Allergies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.